There May Be No Sleep Tonight

The reason I say there may be no sleep tonight is - we're getting snow right now (Yes, Molly is very excited). It isn't snowing hard but hey here in our part of Alabama any snow is exciting.
We had storms all day yesterday and today we have flooding in our area, a couple of roads near our home are closed tonight.
Crazy weather I tell ya, 70 degrees one day and snowing the next!
Maybe tomorrow we'll get to post a picture of a big ole snowman, probably not but we can dream can't we. :-)

Air Evac

Tonight we purchased something for our family that feels really good to know we own, but something I do hope we never have to use. We bought a membership for the Air Evac Lifeteam.

The Company operates the world's largest fleet of more than 100 medically-equipped Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopters and has flown more than 180,000 people who were in critical need of care since its founding. The current service area includes operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia, with the company being the largest air ambulance provider in 8 of its 14 states. In 2008 Air Evac Lifeteam was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, and is the largest medical transport program under one name to achieve this accreditation.

Living in a rural area as we do if someone at my home had a life threatening injury or illness the Air Evac helicopter could get here much sooner than an ambulance.

When you purchase a policy you are given decals to put in the back window of each vehicle you own, plus a bright orange sticker to put near the main entrance of your home to alert paramedics that you are a member of Air Evac so they can call them for you if the situation is serious enough.

My mother and father in law have had their policy with Air Evac for a few months now, if you remember a few weeks ago my father in law had a major heart attack, he got to use the services of Air Evac, he was flown from Columbus, MS to Birmingham, AL in only 32 minutes, if not for that flight he most likely wouldn't be here with us today.

If you have no insurance and have to be flown you can count on having at least a $18,000 bill, even with most insurance you would be left owing $8,000 to $10,000 for their services. You can buy a policy for Air Evac Lifeteam for a family of 3 or more for only $60 per year, with this policy if you or any family member listed on the policy has to be flown you pay 0 dollars! The representative that spoke to us tonight was very nice and very informative, if any of you would like more information or have any questions just holler at me, I can even give you the contact information for Trish if you're interested in buying a policy for your family. I really believe this is money well spent.

Bye Bye Birdie

Birdie was my old car, kind of a long story but to make it short and sweet I called her birdie which was short for burden because for a long time that is what the payment was to us, a real burden. Times have changed though and as you know back in November I got another vehicle so it was time for Birdie to move on to a new home anddddd also getting her off the insurance will be nice, we were paying insurance for 5 vehicles with only 3 drivers in the house.

Selling Birdie helped brighten my day a little .... we got our taxes done today, lets just say first time ever we have to pay - UGH!

Birthday Apron

Yesterday was my mother in law's birthday, I spent all day working on this cute apron for her. Let me tell you though, it was just one of those "not so sewing good" days for me ... seemed I made one mistake after another. I did manage to finally finish though and got it delivered to her last night.

Forgotton Anniversary

I don't know how I let it slip past me but I forgot a very important anniversary.

The one year anniversary of my blog!

It was February 21, 2008 when "A Simple Country Life" was born. It is something to look back and see things we've done and things that have happened over the past year. I look forward to many more years sharing stories with all of you.

The Auction Yesterday

Well the auction didn't go so great, might have been better if we'd have got there a little sooner but I didn't have the heart to get Molly up early. We let her sleep until about 9 or 10 and by the time we did her breathing treatment and everything we were 12 o'clock getting to the auction (Molly stayed with my inlaws, she hates auctions). The primitive things we may have bid on had already sold by the time we got there. Steve did buy 5 or 6 old doors, only two of then are really neat .. not sure what we'll do with them, may make a table out of one of them. He also bought a bunch of old tools, you know old rusty guys stuff. The Cooks are having another auction in a couple of weeks, maybe we'll have better luck at it and maybe we'll be able to arrive a little earlier.

Happy Birthday Dustin

Yesterday was Dustin's birthday (my son-in-law).He's the big 24 now, shewwwwww getting old isn't it. haha ...not really I remember being 24, seems like that was 100 years ago. Man time flies doesn't it! Anyway, we went out to eat last night at Chili's for his birthday. It was fun and of course the food was good.

Today Steve and I are going to an antique auction, been a while since we've got a chance to go to one so we're really looking forward to it. You know how auctions go, we probably won't be able to buy alot to resale hopefully we can buy a little though, I know our booths really need reworking and new inventory in them also.

Yum Yum, Buttermilk Pie

I know some of you may be thinking, ewwwww a buttermilk pie, I promise though it's really good and simple to make too. Molly and I made one last night, I wanted to share a picture of it and the recipe just in case you decide you want to try making one.

Molly loved this one so well, she had a big piece last night, two pieces of it this morning after eating a bowl of cereal before school, so see ... she really loves it and she's one that just doesn't always love things.

(I got this recipe out of my Pots, Pans and Pioneers cookbook.)

Buttermilk Pie

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

3 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

4 Tbsp. melted butter or oleo

1 tsp. lemon flavoring (I didn't have this so I just used vanilla flavoring)

1 unbaked pie shell (I used a deep dish pie shell, all the mixture wouldn't quit fit so it might work well to just use two regular pie shells)

Mix sugar, flour and salt. Add egg yolks, buttermilk, butter, lemon flavoring (or vanilla like I used),. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Pour into pie shell. Place in hot oven (450 degrees) for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes.

It's really good warm but we decided we like it just as well cold.

Such A Shock

As I write this post I am still in shock over hearing the news last night, I am speaking of a sweet couple we have known for several years now, their names are Johnny and Denise, we met them through antiquing.
Well yesterday something horrible happened, the husband shot the wife, then turned the gun on himself. They both died, him at the scene and her after being airlifted to the hospital.
I just don't understand why. He may have wanted to end his life but I don't understand why he had to take her life also. I guess some things aren't meant to be understood. I do know this will be one incident that will forever stay on my mind, sadly ...
Johnny had two children and Denise also had two of her own, please remember these 4 people in your prayers.

Valentine Pictures

Here are a few pictures from Valentine's Day at the hospital. We had Molly's room all decked out with decorations, may have got a little carried away with it all but it was fun and it did brighten up the room a little. Molly chilling out in her hospital bed. Tulips Steve gave me.Molly and her best friend Penni who came to visit her on Valentine's Day. Penni is a great friend to Molly and really understands everything Molly has to go through, Penni lost her 15 year old brother to CF back in 2007. Molly petting a poodle in the lobby of the hospital. If you are wondering why Molly is wearing a mask, all CF patients have to wear mask when they leave their hospital room due to the fact that they can pass very dangerous bugs/infections to each other.

Very Unexpected News - But Happy News!

We were just informed that Molly gets to go home tomorrow!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.............................
What a happy night it is!

Molly Is Gettng Better And Momma Is Ready For Spring

Today is the day Molly went downstairs for her pulmonary function test. Guess what? I have good news, it was better today. Woooohoooo! If you remember the day we went home at the end of her 13 day stay in January her bottom number was only 65, well today she blew a 68. I'm really hoping by Friday it will be even higher, at least 70 or higher.
We're also hoping Friday will be the day we get out of jail (another word for hospital).

The weather is getting beautiful and I think how nice it'll be to get home so we can really enjoy it, hopefully this weekend will be nice for us .... I think I could just sit outside all day in my swing and sip on some sweet tea and do nothing else, ohhh that would be so nice and peaceful.
The sunshine just brings to mind things like the arrival of the hummingbirds which is always so exciting to me, flowers in the flower bed, camping at the river, fresh tomatoes from the garden ..... I know it's only Feb. 16 and I'm kind of rushing things but you get the idea, I am sooooooooo ready for spring!

Valentine's Day

Hope everyone has had a great Valentine's Day.
Our day was nice, Tiffany and Dustin came up to the hospital to visit us. Also Molly's best friend (Penni) came today and spent some time with Molly, you could imagine they had a blast. Now Molly is curled up in the hospital bed taking a nap. She's really done more laying around and sleeping this time more than ever. I believe it's the benedryl she has to take before one of her iv meds, it just knocks her out. Also with her being on 3 iv meds most of the day she's confined to her bed due to that ... I guess that would be enough to make anyone just wanna sleep all the time.

In Good Time

In good time

Life always comes to you in good time.
There's no need to rush it, and nothing to be gained by attempting to hold it back.
Some things will take longer than you thought they would.
Go ahead and get them completed anyway.
Some things will arrive sooner than you anticipated.
Go ahead and deal with them when they do.
Make good and thoughtful use of every moment that comes your way.
Peacefully let go of any anxiety or resentment about how little time you have or how much time it takes, and simply give your best as time continues to flow.
In good time, you'll get it done.
In good time, you'll look back and know without a doubt that you have indeed been moving forward.
The day ahead is filled with opportunities for joy and fulfillment.
Give yourself completely to each moment as it comes, and in good time you'll fill your world with richness.
-- Ralph Marston

I received the above poem from a cousin in an email, just reminds me of mine and Molly's point in our life right now, here at the hospital.
I have been trying to make the best of this stay, trying to stay upbeat and positive, knowing it's for the best and knowing "This too shall pass".

You Aren't Going To Believe This!

Molly was admitted back to the hospital on Tuesday. Her lung function was back down really low again. We really hate having to come back in so soon after just getting out from the last hospital stay. She's taking it pretty hard and has done alot of crying.
They did change her iv meds this time and have her on another oral antibiotic so hopefully this stay will get her good and cleared out.
We're hoping this will only be a 10 day stay. She'll go this coming Monday for a pulmonary function test and I guess we'll know more about how long our stay is going to be after that.

My father in law got to go home from the hospital yesterday (Wednesday), he seems to be doing pretty good.

The Beautiful Saturday That Wasn't So Great

Yesterday morning my father in law woke up with severe chest pains. Yes, he had a really bad heart attack. He was flown to Birmingham and is currently in CCU. They put a stint in to open the vessel back up, he's stable now but the doctor is worried about the damage that was done because from the time his pain started and by the time they got him to Birmingham alot of time passed, he said time would tell.
We spent the day up there yesterday and really hate we're not up there today but Steve had to work and of course I need to be here to take care of Molly. We're planning on going tomorrow to visit them, then again Tuesday because we'll have to go then for Molly's appointment. Sometimes I think we should just move to Birmingham we seem to spend so much time there. Not really but it would be nice if we lived a little closer.

Blogging Lazy

Yep, I'm guilty, I have been so blogging lazy lately. I have been here though, lurking around reading everyone else's post and of course seeing if I have had any new comments.

Today was such a beautiful day here, oh if every day could be so nice.
It was a long day but you know sometimes long days are nice, the older I get the faster time seems to go by so to have a day that drags on and on is really nice sometimes. Slow Sundays make me think back to the days when everything was closed on Sundays (Blue Law). Do you remember those days? Ohhhh as a child it was horrible, you'd want to go shopping or something but you couldn't because all the stores were closed.
Those were the days weren't they ...